Was just finishing my first Herne Hill session of the year at that time. Nice morning, but cold and windy. Hope you are having a nice ride.

I was out that way between 1030 and 1145 this morning, didn't do Chalkpit Lane though. No way is my fitness up to that level yet. The climb up from Woldingham station to the village was bad enough.

BMMF and I think that might be the toughest climb in the Surrey Hills (although he may have changed his mind?). Chapeau to anyone who's going up it at this time of the year.

I got a suntanned face from the ride today,
And some hills in my legs;
it wasn't quite 'gentle' as advertised.

Chalkpit Lane was indeed a spiteful slog,
and I was submissive, just wanting to get up there without stopping.
No chance of being aggressive today,
but, like Ant says, it's March.

Rather than start a new thread...

I'll be doing a 65ish mile ride this Sunday (14th March), leaving Smithfields at 9:00.

The route will be something along the lines of:
Anerly Rd
Corkscrew Hill
Skid Hill lane
Beddlestead lane
Pilgrims Way
Kidds Hill
Toys Hill
Pilgrims Way
White Lane
Beddlestead lane
Skid Hill lane
Corkscrew Hill
Anerly Rd

I'll be doing this on a heavy fixed tourer on 67GI.

The more the merrier...

Flat as a pancake...

This is what I called the '70 mile option' last Sunday.

White Lane & Kidds Hill on 67"? No thanks. Steep side of Toys would be hellish too.

Sean, looks all strangely familiar. Could be well up for it, will know by tomorrow. Would most like be on 63 again. Even that was massively over geared for my early season form some weeks ago up White Ln.

I am in, 9:00 Smithfield - Charterhouse Street / St John Street

1. Sean
2. claus
3. Calleva

Bit late but hey.

I'll be on gears.

Excellent ride, thanks Claus and Tom. Must've been the warmest day of the year so far.

Should have eaten more and drank and smoked less last night though, I was running on empty after the second climb of Toys hill and cramping on Beddlestead lane on the way home. I am now totally f*cked.

At times I was cursing myself for bringing my heavy bike, but I needed to take it on a long hilly ride to help me fine tune the set up. I think I'll need a longer stem, I'll also raise the bars, tilt them upwards more and tweak the brake lever position for a more comfortable position on the hoods. After riding about 110 miles this weekend on the bike, I'm not sure I'll stick with Midge bars. They're good for offroad stuff, I much prefer them to flats or risers, but on the road they're not ideal. I might try something with less flare like nitto randonneur bars instead, which might be a better offroad/road compromise. The eccentric BB is also very annoying because for different gear set ups the BB is in a different position, horizontally and vertically, in relation to the saddle.

Sean, Tom, thanks for the brilliant ride. The navigational error added some surprise and change to a very familiar route. My comute this morning was a very slow recovery ride.

P.s. I can't take the credit for this idea, it's Julias ride really. Somehow I got landed with Breakfast duties though.

Speaking of which, any requests?

Where is 1/2? Somewhere near Diss?

Actually, guys, can we make it a 7 meet up? I'm getting hassle about not being late...

It looks like the only option is a 10.46 train from Cambridge - a typical Sunday two hour wait till the next one after that. Do you think that's doable or is it a little crazy?

It's closer to 50 miles if you take the main roads, which are quiet that time of the morning, and quite fast moving in parts: Lea Bridge Rd, Woodford High Rd, Epping Rd all the way to the roundabout, succession of roundabouts swooping up the east side of Harlow; Sawbridgeworth,Stortford, Ugley, Newport, Stumps Cross, Sawston roundabout, Cambridge.

I've done it in about 2h15, but that wasn't pissing about. 3 to 3h15 should be fine for a 'recovery' ride (although it's nowhere close to my definition!).

Possible light rain (speeds you up), but 5-10mph headwind to contend with. Draining :/

Forecasts have done that magical late-on-Saturday rejig :) Perhaps no rain or headwind for you lot after all… and track time for me:

Here's the route nicked from lfgss: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1468463

looks pretty straightforward, and actually passes within 10 metres of my front door.

It'll be in my phone to, just in case.

Awesome, more of a team time trial than a recovery ride.

What time did you make? I got the inevitable second flat half way home.

We got in to Cambridge at about midday, but we'd had a couple of leisurely pit stops on the way, and another puncture. Still, I think it would have been tough to make your train.

That was a fun ride, at times team time trial is about the right description.

I am not riding my bike tomorrow...

Posted By: PlurabelleWhat time did you make? I got the inevitable second flat half way home.

Fuck, you've got bad luck.

Sounds like you need the rest.

Posted By: AntSounds like you need the rest.

I make you right. that's the problem - I am feeling pretty close to exhaustion, but not through training (hah! the very idea) but because of everyday stuff, lingering cold etc, taking their toll. What a moaner... time for a few early nights.

Posted By: BringMeMyFix

Puncture repair kit?

Nope. New tubes used on all changes, and our times did not get any quicker either. We could do with some tips from the Renault F1 pit crew. There was a mix up with valve lengths that definitely added a few tenths. Also, could save a few more seconds if we add talcum powder.